Intro to Chess

This course is designed for any individual with an interest in learning about the game of chess.  The first half of the course starts with some early chess history and focuses mainly on the basics of the game (the board, the pieces, and how to play).  No prior knowledge of chess is required. After learning how to play chess, students learn how to read and write chess notation and are given the opportunity to play chess both online and with someone they know.  

The second half of the chess course is designed to make the student a better chess player.  It teaches various tactics and strategies such as forks, pins, skewers, discovery, attraction, gaining pieces, and how to checkmate with specific chess pieces.  In addition, the course also covers the basic understanding needed for playing in a chess tournament, provides opportunities to explore local/national/global chess organizations, and presents multiple lessons in chess history.  A final research project on a chess topic is required.

Syllabus